2012–13 in Belgian football

The 2012–13 football season in Belgium, which is the 110th season of competitive football in the country and runs from July 2012 until June 2013.

Football in Belgium
Season2012–13
Men's football
Pro LeagueAnderlecht
Second DivisionOostende
Third Division AHoogstraten
Third Division BVirton
CupGenk
Super CupAnderlecht
← 2011–12 2013–14 →

National team football

Men's national football team
Main article: Belgium national football team

With no less than four players winning individual awards as best player in their league following conclusion of the 2011–12 season, namely Eden Hazard (in France), Vincent Kompany (in England), Kevin Mirallas (in Greece) and Jan Vertonghen (in the Netherlands), questions were raised how it was possible that Belgium had not managed to qualify for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament. Moreover, this raised the belief that Belgium would qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, even with rather inexperienced head coach Marc Wilmots in charge after Georges Leekens quit in May 2012.

In a friendly before the actual qualifying campaign, the Red Devils managed to beat the Netherlands by a score of 4-2, with Dries Mertens the man of the match, scoring once and giving two assists. For once, a decent start was made, as Belgium won in Wales and kept Croatia to a 1-1 draw at home. The team continued on their good spirits, following up with a 0-3 win in Serbia, the biggest ever loss for the Serbian team, and a 2-0 win at home against Scotland. This left Belgium and Croatia together in the lead with 10 points out of 12 and with the other four teams trailing 6 or more points behind it already looked like they would be battling it out for first place. Also, by November Belgium moved into position 20 on the FIFA World Rankings, their highest position since 2004. Belgium finished the year 2012 with a 2-1 friendly loss in Romania.

In 2013, Belgium started with a 2-1 win against Slovakia, due to a last minute goal by Dries Mertens, before winning twice against Macedonia to keep their unbeaten status in the FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. In June, while having risen to a record high 12th position in the FIFA World Rankings, Belgium first beat United States 2-4 in a friendly in Cleveland, before winning their final qualifying match at home against Serbia 2-1. At the same time, Croatia lost at home to Scotland, allowing Belgium to take a three-point lead.

2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 September 2012 Wales 0 – 2 BelgiumCardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
19:45 UTC+1 Report Kompany  42'
Vertonghen  83'		 Attendance: 20,156
Referee: Stefan Johannesson (Sweden)
11 September 2012 Belgium 1 – 1 CroatiaKing Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+2 Gillet  45+1' Report Perišić  6' Attendance: 39,987
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)
12 October 2012 Serbia 0 – 3 BelgiumStadion Crvena Zvezda, Belgrade
20:30 UTC+2 Report Benteke  34'
De Bruyne  68'
Mirallas  90+1'		 Attendance: 21,650
Referee: Pavel Královec (Czech Republic)
16 October 2012 Belgium 2 – 0 ScotlandKing Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+2 Benteke  68'
Kompany  71'		 Report Attendance: 44,132
Referee: Tom Harald Hagen (Norway)
22 March 2013 North Macedonia 0 – 2 BelgiumPhilip II Arena, Skopje
20:45 UTC+1 Report De Bruyne  26'
Hazard  62' (pen.)		 Attendance: 15,947
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Germany)
26 March 2013 Belgium 1 – 0 North MacedoniaKing Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+1 Hazard  62' Report Attendance: 44,230
Referee: Olegário Benquerença (Portugal)
7 June 2013 Belgium 2 – 1 SerbiaKing Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 UTC+2 De Bruyne  13'
Fellaini  60'		 Report Kolarov  87' Attendance: 45,844
Referee: Stéphane Lannoy (France)

Friendlies
15 August 2012 Belgium 4 – 2 NetherlandsKing Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
20:45 CEST Benteke  20'
Mertens  75'
Lukaku  77'
Vertonghen  80'		 Report Narsingh  54'
Huntelaar  55'		 Attendance: 46,000
Referee: Marijo Strahonja (Croatia)
14 November 2012 Romania 2 – 1 BelgiumArena Națională, Bucharest
20:00 CET Maxim  32'
Torje  66' (pen.)		 Report Benteke  23' Referee: Mauro Bergonzi (Italia)
6 February 2013 Belgium 2 – 1 SlovakiaJan Breydel Stadium, Bruges
20:45 CET Hazard  10' (pen.)
Mertens  90'		 Report Lásik  87' Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel)
30 May 2013 United States 2 – 4 BelgiumFirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland
2:11 CET Cameron  24'
Dempsey  80' (pen.)		 Report Mirallas  8'
Benteke  57', 71'
Fellaini  65'		 Attendance: 27,720
Referee: Jeffrey Solís (Costa Rica)


Promotion and relegation

Team promoted to 2012–13 Belgian Pro League

Teams relegated from 2011–12 Belgian Pro League

  • 15th Place: Westerlo (lost playoff)
  • 16th Place: Sint-Truiden

Teams promoted to 2012–13 Belgian Second Division

  • Belgian Third Division A Champions: Mouscron-Péruwelz
  • Belgian Third Division B Champions: Dessel Sport
  • Playoff winners: Oudenaarde

Teams relegated from 2011-12 Belgian Second Division

  • 16th Place, lost playoff: Tienen
  • 17th Place: Dender EH
  • 18th Place: Wetteren

League competitions

Belgian First Division
Main article: 2012–13 Belgian Pro League

Belgian Second Division
Main article: 2012–13 Belgian Second Division

Belgian Second Division Final Round

Belgian Third Division

Belgian Third Division A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Hoogstraten VV (P) 34 22 8 4 73 31 +42 74
2 KRC Mechelen (E) 34 18 10 6 55 37 +18 64
3 Verbroedering Geel-Meerhout (E, P) 34 17 10 7 65 37 +28 61
4 K. Rupel Boom FC 34 16 8 10 56 45 +11 56
5 K. Berchem Sport 2004 34 15 7 12 50 46 +4 52
6 R. Cappellen FC 34 14 9 11 57 38 +19 51
6 Torhout 1992 KM 34 14 9 11 42 37 +5 51
8 KFC Vigor Wuitens Hamme 34 12 12 10 49 44 +5 48
9 KVV Coxyde 34 12 10 12 54 42 +12 46
10 KSV Bornem 34 11 12 11 51 53 −2 45
11 KSV Temse 34 11 10 13 39 51 −12 43
12 K. Standaard Wetteren 34 10 12 12 46 56 −10 42
13 KMSK Deinze (E) 34 10 9 15 51 60 −9 39
13 K. Olsa Brakel 34 10 9 15 44 56 −12 39
15 KV Turnhout 34 9 7 18 53 66 −13 34
15 KFC Izegem 34 9 7 18 49 67 −18 34
17 KSK Ronse (R) 34 8 7 19 47 73 −26 31
18 K. Racing Waregem (R) 34 8 4 22 42 84 −42 28
Source:
(E) Entered promotion playoff; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.

Belgian Third Division B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 R. Excelsior Virton (P) 36 23 10 3 76 28 +48 79
2 K. Bocholter VV (E) 36 22 8 6 73 37 +36 74
3 K. Patro Eisden Maasmechelen (E) 36 18 13 5 63 36 +27 67
4 UR La Louvière Centre 36 18 9 9 70 34 +36 63
5 RFC Huy 36 14 10 12 51 43 +8 52
5 KSC Grimbergen 36 14 10 12 58 53 +5 52
7 RFC Union La Calamine 36 14 9 13 61 52 +9 51
7 Heppignies-Lambusart-Fleurus 36 14 9 13 50 51 −1 51
9 FCV Dender EH 36 13 12 11 57 47 +10 51
9 KVK Tienen (R) 36 13 12 11 50 44 +6 51
11 RU Wallonne Ciney 36 14 8 14 52 58 −6 50
12 KV Woluwe-Zaventem (E) 36 13 8 15 52 57 −5 47
13 K. Diegem Sport 36 12 9 15 58 56 +2 45
14 RFC Tournai 36 12 7 17 46 51 −5 43
15 R. Géants Athois 36 11 10 15 54 59 −5 43
16 RCS Verviétois 36 9 14 13 42 54 −12 41
17 R. Union Saint-Gilloise 36 9 11 16 46 53 −7 38
18 R. Entente Bertrigeoise (R) 36 6 8 22 37 77 −40 26
19 FC Bleid-Gaume (R) 36 3 1 32 12 128 −116 10
Source:
(E) Entered promotion playoff; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.

Third division play-off

All teams marked E entered a promotion playoff.

Only Verbroedering Geel-Meerhout succeeded in being promoted to the 2013–14 Belgian Second Division.

Transfers
Main article: List of Belgian football transfers summer 2012
Main article: List of Belgian football transfers winter 2012–13

European Club results

Champions Anderlecht and runners-up Club Brugge start in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League, while league numbers three and four, Genk and Gent play in the Europa League together with cup winners Lokeren.

Date Team Competition Round Leg Opponent Location Score Belgian Team Goalscorers
19 July 2012 Gent Europa League Qual. Round 2 Leg 1, Away Differdange Stade du Thillenberg, Differdange 0-1 Arzo
26 July 2012 Gent Europa League Qual. Round 2 Leg 2, Home Differdange Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent 3-2 Melli, Conté, Kola
1 August 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Qual. Round 3 Leg 1, Home Ekranas Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht 5-0 De Sutter, Kanu, Mbokani (2), Jovanović
1 August 2012 Club Brugge Champions League Qual. Round 3 Leg 1, Away Copenhagen Parken Stadium, Copenhagen 0-0
2 August 2012 Genk Europa League Qual. Round 3 Leg 1, Home Aktobe Cristal Arena, Genk 2-1 Vossen, Joseph-Monrose
2 August 2012 Gent Europa League Qual. Round 3 Leg 1, Away Videoton Sóstói Stadion, Székesfehérvár 1-0
8 August 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Qual. Round 3 Leg 2, Away Ekranas Aukštaitija Stadium, Panevėžys 0-6 Kljestan, Praet, Iakovenko, De Sutter, Molins, Canesin
8 August 2012 Club Brugge Champions League Qual. Round 3 Leg 2, Home Copenhagen Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 2-3 Figueras, Odjidja
9 August 2012 Genk Europa League Qual. Round 3 Leg 2, Away Aktobe Aktobe Central Stadium, Aktobe 1-2 Benteke, Buffel
9 August 2012 Gent Europa League Qual. Round 3 Leg 2, Home Videoton Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent 0-3
21/22 August 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Play-off Round Leg 1, Away AEL Limassol Tsirion Stadium, Limassol 2-1 Mbokani
23 August 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Play-off Round Leg 1, Away Debrecen Stadion Oláh Gábor Út, Debrecen 0-3 Blondel, Refaelov, Bacca
23 August 2012 Genk Europa League Play-off Round Leg 1, Away Luzern Swissporarena, Lucerne 2-1 Vossen
23 August 2012 Lokeren Europa League Play-off Round Leg 1, Home Viktoria Plzeň King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels 2-1 Harbaoui, Mij. Marić
28 August 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Play-off Round Leg 2, Home AEL Limassol Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht 2-0 Mbokani, Iakovenko
30 August 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Play-off Round Leg 2, Home Debrecen Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 4-1 Larsen, Vázquez, Tchité, Bacca
30 August 2012 Genk Europa League Play-off Round Leg 2, Home Luzern Cristal Arena, Genk 2-0 Fernández, Masika
30 August 2012 Lokeren Europa League Play-off Round Leg 2, Away Viktoria Plzeň Stadion města Plzně, Plzeň 1-0
18 September 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 1, Away AC Milan San Siro, Milan 0-0
20 September 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 1, Away Bordeaux Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux 4-0
20 September 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 1, Home Videoton Cristal Arena, Genk 3-0 Vossen, Buffel, De Ceulaer
3 October 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 2, Home Málaga Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht 0-3
4 October 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 2, Home Marítimo Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 2-0 Bacca, Vleminckx
4 October 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 2, Away Basel St. Jakob-Park, Basel 2-2 De Ceulaer, Vossen
24 October 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 3, Away Zenit Saint Petersburg Petrovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg 0-1
25 October 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 3, Away Newcastle United St James' Park, Newcastle 0-1
25 October 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 3, Home Sporting CP Cristal Arena, Genk 2-0 De Ceulaer, Barda
6 November 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 4, Home Zenit Saint Petersburg Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht 1-0 Mbokani
8 November 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 4, Home Newcastle United Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 2-2 Tričkovski, Jørgensen
8 November 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 4, Away Sporting CP Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon 1-1 Plet
21 November 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 5, Home AC Milan Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht 1-3 De Sutter
22 November 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 5, Home Bordeaux Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges 1-2 Lestienne
22 November 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 5, Away Videoton Sóstói Stadion, Székesfehérvár 1-0 Barda
4 December 2012 Anderlecht Champions League Group Stage Matchday 6, Away Málaga La Rosaleda Stadium, Málaga 2-2 Jovanović, Mbokani
6 December 2012 Club Brugge Europa League Group Stage Matchday 6, Away Marítimo Estádio dos Barreiros, Funchal 2-1 Refaelov
6 December 2012 Genk Europa League Group Stage Matchday 6, Home Basel Cristal Arena, Genk 0-0
14 February 2013 Genk Europa League Round of 32 Leg 1, Away Stuttgart Mercedes-Benz Arena, Stuttgart 1-1 Plet
21 February 2013 Genk Europa League Round of 32 Leg 2, Home Stuttgart Cristal Arena, Genk 0-2

Other honours
Competition Winner
Cup Genk
Supercup Anderlecht
Third division A Hoogstraten
Third division B Virton
Promotion A Gent-Zeehaven
Promotion B Londerzeel
Promotion C Oosterzonen Oosterwijk
Promotion D Sprimont-Comblain

European qualification for 2013-14 summary
Competition Qualifiers Reason for Qualification
UEFA Champions League Group Stage Anderlecht 1st in Jupiler League
UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round for Non-Champions Zulte Waregem 2nd in Jupiler League
UEFA Europa League Play-off Round Genk Cup winner
UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round Club Brugge 3rd in Jupiler League
UEFA Europa League Second Qualifying Round Standard Liège Europa League Playoff winner

See also

References
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